A community initiative, Growing in Mount Alexander, is inspiring young children and their families to embrace healthy eating while building practical skills through hands-on vegetable gardening.
Harcourt Pre–School and Maldon Pre–School have been selected to participate in the project, which aims to support families to grow fresh produce at home.
The project has also provided wicking beds, tools and infrastructure to enable the successful growing of edible produce.
Additional support through membership with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is also equipping educators and children with the skills to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, affordable and culturally diverse food.
The Mail caught up with students at the Harcourt Pre-School earlier this month to see them enjoy the opportunity to take part in a hands-on workshop with Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Healthy Loddon Campaspe Project Officer Jess Brown.
The workshop saw children plant their very own herb and vegetable seedlings alongside their parents.
The well-timed event meant the children were able to take home their mini gardens just in time for Mother’s Day and share the chance to grow and eventually harvest their plants with families.
Harcourt Pre-School’s Sally Long said the project couldn’t have come at a better time as they work to rebuild a section of the pre-school garden ravaged by the devastating January 9 fire.
“We lost fencing, our garden shed and chook shed and many established plantings. Fortunately, the chooks were off-site at the time,” she said.
“This project is the beginning of an even greater project for the Harcourt Pre-School. We have enlisted a landscape designer to help us to further develop the gardens surrounding as well as within the kinder playground.
“Caroline Hyett Gardens and Design is donating her services to our kindergarten following the fires, and is working closely with staff and children towards the brief,” Sally said.
“The community has also been extremely generous in helping us rebuild. We have had a shed, water tank and hose reel donated and just last week the Harcourt Lions Club dropped off an Rodelisa voucher for plants.
“This latest initiative has also enabled us to build three new wicking beds to plant out,” she said.
Healthier together
As part of the new Growing in Mount Alexander program children at the Harcourt and Maldon centres will take part in planting, nurturing, and harvesting vegetables, helping them develop practical skills and a stronger connection to where their food comes from.
Participating families will also receive growing booklets and recipe cards featuring the vegetables grown during the project, building confidence in preparing healthy, affordable meals at home.
Boosting vegie intake
This initiative responds to significant local health challenges identified in the Active Living Census (ALC). Vegetable consumption in the shire remains low. Poor vegetable intake is strongly linked to increased risk of overweight, obesity, and chronic disease. Food insecurity is another pressing concern. According to the ALC, households in the Mount Alexander Shire have experienced higher levels of food insecurity than the Victorian average.
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Acting Director Healthy Communities Rosalie Rogers said by helping families grow their own vegetables, they’re not only building practical skills but also supporting lifelong healthy habits.
“This project is about making healthy eating accessible, engaging, and achievable for local families- starting from an early age.”
Children and families can learn more about the program and explore helpful resources on the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website: www.healthyloddoncampaspe.au/growinginloddoncampaspe.
Growing in Mount Alexander highlights the power of local, community-driven solutions to improve health outcomes – supporting families to grow, learn, and thrive together. It is delivered in partnership with Healthy Loddon Campaspe and Mount Alexander Shire.
If you would like to make a donation to assist Harcourt Pre-School to rebuild their garden you can email them at harcourt@ykinders.org.au for more information.